Media Release
28 April 2006

Manukau City Council has decided to extend the process for selecting Taura Here potential members on to Te Tiriti o Waitangi Standing Committee, to include Taura Here on both the Maori and General Electoral Rolls.

Taura Here (Maori affiliated to tribes outside of Manukau) will be invited to nominate appropriate persons for the four positions on the committee, through a process to be conducted by them. Those nominated will be recommended to Council which will have the final decision as to who will be appointed to the committee.

Previously the Council had resolved that Taura Here candidates and their nominators must be of Maori descent, resident in Manukau City and registered on the Maori Parliamentary Electoral Roll. This followed advice from the Mana Whenua Forum, an advisory group representing the original tribal groups of Manukau, to Council.

The Mayor of Manukau, Sir Barry Curtis, says Council is aware that the decision to only consider candidates on the Maori Roll has caused some concern for interested parties.

“The Council’s original decision to consider candidates registered on the Maori roll was made in good faith and in support of Mana Whenua” he says. “We left it to Maori to determine how Maori people should be appointed to the committee. It was they who determined that only Maori on the Maori Roll would be eligible for committee membership.

“Council has further considered its position and has decided it would be in the wider interest of Maori that Taura Here should nominate persons through a process, conducted by them, but which involves Taura Here on both the Maori and General Rolls.

“Mana Whenua are aware of Council’s position and maintain their original stance, but they are realistic about the process and acknowledge that Council has to change its decision.”

To allow for the change, the current selection process has been suspended.

Council officers will work with Taura Here to make arrangements for a hui at which Taura Here can nominate and discuss who they wish to put forward as potential members for consideration by the Council. The hui is expected to be held on Saturday 10 June 2006 at Te Puea Memorial Marae, Mangere Bridge.

Taura Here who are interested in being involved are invited to the hui. Candidates will be recommended to the Council which will make the final appointments at its meeting on 29 June.

Background

On 30 March, Manukau City Council resolved that the number of Taura Here representatives on Te Tiriti o Waitangi Standing Committee be increased from three to four, bringing the total number of members to 18.

The committee will comprise nine elected members and nine appointed members (five Mana Whenua and four Taura Here). Mana Whenua positions to the committee have been confirmed and Taura Here positions will be recommended to Council, from a hui, which will make the final appointments.

ENDS

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